A family in the state of Song made an excellent ointment for chapped hands; so for generations they engaged in laundering. A man who heard of this offered a hundred pieces of gold for their recipe.
”We have been in the laundry trade for generations,” said this family as they discussed the matter. ”But we never made more than a few pieces of gold. Today we can sell our recipe for a hundred pieces. By all means let us sell it.”
Now the state of Yue was invading the state of Wu, and having bought the recipe this man presented it to the Prince of Wu, who thereupon made him a general. His troops fought a naval action with those of Yue that winter, and completely routed the enemy. Then the
prince made him a noble, rewarding him with a fief.
Thus the same ointment for chaps could win a fief or simply aid laundrymen.
All depends upon the use to which things are put.
Allegorical Meaning
The parable centers on a humble frostbite-preventing ointment used differently by two parties, revealing Zhuangzi’s core philosophy.
Relativity of Utility
- Villagers’ Use: Applied to prevent chapped hands during silk-washing.
- Outsider’s Use: Sold to military for winter naval warfare.
An object’s value lies not in its nature, but in the context and vision of its user.
Limitations of Conventional Perception
The villagers saw the ointment only as a tool for survival, unaware of its latent potential. Zhuangzi critiques fixed thinking:
“Small understandings cannot comprehend great applications.”
Critique of “Usefulness”
- Surface-Level: The outsider profits massively (royal grant vs. meager washing wages).
- Philosophical Layer: True “usefulness” transcends material gain. The ointment’s essence — its natural property — remains unchanged, while humans impose arbitrary value.
The Illusion of Scarcity
The villagers’ poverty stemmed not from lacking resources, but from lacking perspective.
Zhuangzi implies the universe’s abundance is veiled by small-mindedness.
Hierarchy of Wisdom
- Villagers: Trapped in literal function.
- Outsider: Sees latent potential through strategic vision.
Zhuangzi’s Ideal: Transcends both to perceive the ointment’s ziran (natural essence) beyond utility.
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